Patriarch Shuo spoke, his tone carrying even a trace of pleading.
“We old ones are willing to seal ourselves here, never stepping outside for all eternity, until death comes to us in this place. I only ask that you let the younger generation of this Particle World go, let them… be free.”
When he spoke the word “freedom,” his voice grew heavy.
There is no such thing as truly sharing another’s pain, but everyone understands the value of freedom.
“How do you know that I can open this Blood Rune Space?” Xu Zimo asked with a faint smile.
“Only two kinds of people can come to this Blood Rune Space. The first are those who wish to annihilate our Blood Rune Race. The second are those who come for the Ancient Celestial Court,” Patriarch Shuo said. “You are clearly not the first kind, so you must be here for the Ancient Celestial Court. And that means you surely carry the True God Sword.”
“Since you know I have the True God Sword, why don’t you try to seize it?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
“Since you were able to come here, you must not fear us Blood Rune Race. Besides, we no longer desire struggle. We only wish for our descendants to be free, nothing more.” Patriarch Shuo shook his head. “If you are willing to agree, our Blood Rune Race is prepared to accept any condition, so long as it is within our ability.”
Hearing his words, Xu Zimo fell into silence.
“We beg you to grant us this. After we leave, we are willing to hide from the world, never joining in any conflict,” Patriarch Shuo said, bowing and kneeling respectfully before Xu Zimo.
From the blood sea itself, endless waves churned violently.
“Please grant us this,” countless voices roared in unison from the blood sea, echoing like thunder.
“Do you know where the Ancient Celestial Court is located?” Xu Zimo asked in a low voice.
“From here, three hundred miles northward, there is a golden light. That is where the Celestial Court’s seal lies,” Patriarch Shuo quickly said. “This is only our guess, for that golden light is incomparably strong. Anyone who touched it either died or was gravely injured. None of us ever crossed it to see what lies beyond.”
“Take me there,” Xu Zimo said. “Oh, and what is the current strength of your Blood Rune Race?”
He recalled what Lady Jing had once told him, that the Ancient Celestial Court seemed to be guarded by god beasts, whose strength had reached the level of half-step Nirvana Void.
Originally, he had planned to let Paimon and Seven-Face handle it, but now he could borrow the strength of the Blood Rune Race.
“The strongest in our race is the previous generation’s elder patriarch, who reached Nirvana Void. But his lifespan has run out, and he dares not act lightly. Besides him, there are three others at half-step Nirvana Void,” Patriarch Shuo admitted directly without concealment.
“Then bring those three half-step Nirvana Voids with us. We will go to the Ancient Celestial Court,” Xu Zimo said.
Hearing this, Patriarch Shuo did not object.
“Chang, Xu, come forth.”
At his words, the blood sea rolled violently. Deep within, monstrous waves surged as if some terrifying presence was about to emerge.
Soon, two towering figures rose from the blood sea, their upper bodies bare.
Both had beast heads on human bodies. One head was white, the other purple.
Their appearances were different. One had a sharp nose and ears, his eyes gloomy and cold. The other wore a huge earring, even a silver ring through his nose. His eyes burned like fire, and two horns rose from his head.
“Greetings, honored one,” the two greeted respectfully.
“In the Ancient Celestial Court there may be guardian beasts. You will need to face them,” Xu Zimo said.
“Honored one, go without worry. We will clear away all obstacles for you,” said the one called Chang, standing on the left.
…
The four of them rose into the air, flying toward the depths of the blood sea.
The endless scenery of the blood sea was nauseating. Staring too long made one feel sick.
Xu, the beast on the right, led the way. Soon, they arrived at the place of golden light.
Xu Zimo raised his head and saw ahead a barrier, faint golden light flickering across it.
With a wave of his right hand, endless sword intent condensed in his palm.
The True God Sword shattered the void, appearing in his grip.
The moment it appeared, Xu Zimo clearly felt changes stir in the three Blood Rune Race members. But they restrained themselves, not acting rashly.
“Rest assured. I bear no grudge against your race. If I’m in the mood, I might even let you leave this place,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
The three all nodded.
He lifted the True God Sword, thousands of strands of sword intent coiling around him.
Closing his eyes slightly, he sensed the will that the Holy Progenitor had once left upon this sword.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and he slashed directly at the golden barrier.
With a deafening boom, the scene before them was engulfed in sword light.
Boundless sword intent filled the endless void.
The golden light retreated inch by inch under its assault. When the True God Sword finally struck fully, there came a sharp crack as the void before them shattered.
The golden light vanished. Before their eyes stood a vast palace, perched atop a jade-like structure.
The palace was shrouded in immortal mist.
Immortal fog swirled, carrying faint whispers like celestial songs echoing within.
The palace towered as if it held up the sky itself. Stars poured down from above, and the celestial river wound around it.
Looking downward, they saw white jade staircases stretching out endlessly.
It was as if celestial music resounded in their ears, urging them forward as though on a pilgrimage toward the palace.
Their feet touched the steps, stirring the immortal mist.
Step by step, before this vast palace, they felt as small as ants.
To think, once upon a time, in that age, the Holy Progenitor had ruled from this Celestial Court, commanding all. This had once been the supreme royal court, master of the entire Primordial Heartlands.
Back then, the Primordial Heartlands were unified. All things obeyed the Holy Progenitor.
But now, since Emperor Zhen Wu established the Imperial Era, the great sects coexisted.
There was no true ruler anymore.
Even the mighty Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground, with its five Grand Emperors, only dominated in the Overlord Region.
Its influence could not extend to other continents.
…
There were ninety-nine steps.
When they reached the top, Xu Zimo saw the palace clearly.
Eighteen towering columns like heavenly pillars upheld the entire structure, carved with gilded designs.
The palace had three tiers.
The white jade beneath their feet glowed warmly. Mist swirled, lights shimmered faintly through it.
Windows were carved with green tiles, walls built from polished jade.
On the sandalwood eaves, phoenixes spread their wings as if about to fly, while golden dragons coiled up the gates, soaring ninety thousand li skyward.
Every step on the ground felt unreal.
Looking down, the entire Blood Rune Space seemed to lie beneath their gaze.
“So this is the Ancient Celestial Court,” Chang said with awe.
No sooner had his words fallen than two deafening beast roars erupted from deep within the palace.
The palace’s ancient gates, sealed for countless ages, slowly began to open.